Public schools in Staples, MN
5 open public schools with an address in Staples, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
901
4 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.6:1
Minnesota median 13.6:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Staples public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Staples, MN: 1 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. The 4 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 901 students, an average of 225 per school. The largest campus is Staples-Motley Senior High (309 students), and the largest elementary school is Staples-Motley Elementary (308).
Staples-Motley School District operates the most schools here (3), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.6:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 49% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Staples
Elementary schools in Staples
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staples-Motley Elementary Staples-Motley School District | PK–04 | 308 | 13.1:1 |
Middle schools in Staples
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staples-Motley Middle School Staples-Motley School District | 05–08 | 284 | 14.6:1 |
High schools in Staples
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FED Staples-Motley Credit Recovery Freshwater Education District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Freshwater Staples ALC Freshwater Education District · Alternative School | 07–12 | — | — | |
| Staples-Motley Senior High Staples-Motley School District | 09–12 | 309 | 16.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White90.2%
- Hispanic2%
- Black0.6%
- Asian0.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.6%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial5.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 3 Staples schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (901 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Staples
How many public schools are in Staples, MN?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Staples: 1 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high. Together they reported 901 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Staples?
Schools with an address in Staples belong to 2 education agencies, led by Staples-Motley School District (3 schools), Freshwater Education District (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Staples?
Staples-Motley Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Staples, with 309 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Staples?
No school with an address in Staples is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Minnesota.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Staples schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Staples public schools is 14.6:1, higher than the Minnesota school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Staples guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Minnesota cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Minnesota cities